"The journey of a thousand ri proceeds step by step, so think without rushing. Understanding that this is the duty of a warrior, put these practices into action, surpass today what you were yesterday, go beyond those of poor skill tomorrow and exceed those who are skillful later... See to it that you temper yourself with one thousand days of practice, and refine yourself with ten thousand days of training. You should investigate this thoroughly."
~Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings~

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Aug and Oct 2012 Hawaii Karate Kenkyukai Sessions

On Aug 12 and Oct 14, 2012, the Hawaii Karate Kenkyukai gathered to study the Pinan / Heian Shodan, Nidan, and Yondan Kata, the Kyan Bo no Kata Sho and Kyan Sai no Kata Sho, and the Gekisai Shodan and Nidan Kata.

As mentioned in previous writeups, Itosu Anko Sensei created the Pinan Shodan kata for the Okinawan school system in the early 1900s as a simplified version of Kusanku, which would be easier for the schoolchildren to learn both in terms of kata length and the literal duration of the physical education classes. While there was initially meant to be only one Pinan kata, Itosu Sensei created four more in successive years to give returning students more kata to practice. Funakoshi Sensei renamed the Pinan Kata to Heian, a change which carried over into schools which had ties to Shotokan. In addition, because Pinan/Heian Shodan was viewed as more complex than the Nidan kata, Funakoshi Sensei switched the teaching order, which is why the Heian Nidan kata is equivalent to the Pinan Shodan kata. Variations of the naming convention over the years across different styles is responsible for the difference in the Pinan / Heian kata names listed further below, which are all the same kata.

Steve Chun and Grant Kawasaki performing Pinan Shodan

Sean Roberts Sensei performing Heian Shodan

Ralph Sakauye Sensei perfoming Pinan Shodan

The Kyan Bo no Kata Sho and Sai no Kata Sho refer to the bo and sai kata taught by Kyan Shinei Sensei, which he had learned from his instructor Kina Shosei Sensei. These kata likely originated from Kina Sensei’s teacher, “Ufuchiku” Kanagusuku Sensei. Ufuchiku Sensei’s bo system is often considered to be a “northern” style due to the influence of Jigen Ryu, which was popular sword style amongst the Satsuma samurai. Evidence to support can be seen via the prevalent use of the “jodan kamae” (upper ready position) where the bo is held over head in a similar fashion as the sword.

Alan Yokota Sensei and John Oberle performing the Kyan Bo no Kata Sho

[DSC_26: Alan Yokota and John Oberle performing the Kyan Bo no Kata Sho]

The Gekisai kata were originally created in the attempt to have a simple, universal kata that the many different styles of karate on Okinawa could practice and perform together during exhibitions, study sessions, or just in general. The Gekisai kata were created by Miyagi Chojun of Goju Ryu. While the goal of having a universal kata shared by all karate styles on Okinawa was never quite realized, these kata remained in practice.

For these study sessions we ushered in a newer format. Every school still performed two rounds of their kata, but after the second round, the meanings / applications of the kata movements were explained and demonstrated with a partner move-by-move from start to finish. Following this round, we split into pairs and each school shared one of those meanings for everyone to practice with a partner.

There was an interesting discussion on the development of karate “terminology” as we know it today, and how that in turn can affect our understanding of various techniques. Karate terminology isn’t just a matter of translation; it’s all Greek even to Japanese and Okinawans as well. I’ll never forget the time I visited the dojo of Yonamine Kousuke Sensei (Uechi Ryu) during a trip to Okinawa back in 2007. Yonamine Sensei was preparing some of his students for promotion testing, and he was quizzing them on specific karate terminology, in Japanese of course. It never occurred to me that karate terminology would be foreign even to native speakers, although now it seems to make sense.

Chibana Sensei often demonstrated techniques rather than using “standard terminology”. Upon being asked, he mentioned to Nakata Sensei that back in the old days, there was no real set terminology used in karate. Teaching was done in standard conversational Okinawan or Japanese, and most everything was demonstrated for proper visualization. It was only much later that “formalized” karate terminology emerged, largely due to the efforts of mainland Japanese to catalogue their techniques and stances. Yoko te (side of the hand) became shuto (knife or sword hand), yoko ashi (side of the foot) is now called sokuto (sword foot), and mae nagai dachi (forward long stance) is now referred to as zenkutsu-dachi (forward bent knee stance). In comparing some of the old kata to the modernized kata, it seems that when a move or stance in the old version of a kata did not fit neatly into the confines of the new terminology, then that move or stance was modified.

One of the more evident examples of terminology affecting understanding is the distinction between what are now called yoko geri and mae geri. Geri (keri) means “kick”, while yoko means “side” and mae means “front”. Therefore yoko geri is taken literally to mean “side kick” in the sense of a kick towards the side, while mae geri refers to a “front kick” in the sense of a kick towards the front.

Originally, yoko geri was called “yoko ashi yoko geri,” which breaks out to: yoko ashi (side of the foot) yoko geri (side kick). Simply put, a kick to the side using the side of your foot. Over time, the term was shortened to “yoko geri.” Mae geri on the other hand used to be called “tsuma saki mae geri”, which breaks out to: tsuma (toe) saki (tip) mae geri (front kick). In other words, a toe kick to the front. This too was shortened simply to “mae geri.” These abbreviations became so ingrained that soon, kicks using the side of the foot were only done to the side and toe kicks were only done to the front.

However, in some original Shorin Ryu kata such as Pinan Yondan or the two Kusanku, there is a kick that was originally called “tsuma saki yoko geri”, or in other words, a toe kick towards the side (with the body still facing forward). Using modern terminology, one would view this kick as a mix between mae geri and yoko geri. Some schools focused more on the “toe kick” aspect and altered the move so the performer turns their body fully towards the side to execute their mae geri (with a toe kick). Others focused more on the “to the side” portion and instead performed a yoko geri (hitting with the side of their foot) while still keeping their body oriented forwards. In both cases, there was a modification to the original movement and meaning, which again was having your body oriented forwards, but kicking with your toe towards your side.

To me, this goes to show that karate terms must always be specific and demonstrated fully for students to understand. Thinking about it, I suppose this would apply even to our kenkyukai study sessions, where many different schools gather together to share their techniques with one another. Sometimes it is useful to remember that our semantics can make our karate terminology a foreign language, even to other other karate schools!

I posted on what may have been an older post, therefore I will re-post here in hopes you will read my request. During the period of 1980 to 1981 I trained under Sensei James Miyaji. Many years have passed and I have thought often of Sensei as to his wellbeing. Could you provide me an update please?

Thank you. I am hoping I will be able to return to Hawaii this year about the time of his birthday; Sensei will be 85 this year as I recall. If you don't object, would you mind contacting via Facebook; search for mark a. dabbs. May have been years since my time there with Sensei, yet the lessons learned from him have stayed with me well all these years.

Dear Yokota SenseiI have wanted to send my condolences on the passing of our Sensei. It was a great privilege to have trained under Nakata Sensei and I miss him as I know you do too. You can contact me at damianperea@yahoo.comSincerely,Damian Perea student of Nakata Sensei Ventura California

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Chibana Chosin (1885 - 1969)

Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Association - Hawaii

My teacher is Patrick Nakata Sensei. He teaches the Shorin Ryu karate he learned from Chibana Chosin Sensei, the Ryukyu Kobudo he learned from Sensei Fumio Nagaishi, and the kobudo he learned from Kyan Shinei Sensei.

Recommended Blogs and Sites

The Chibana Project
My best friend's project to gather information and conduct research about Okinawan karate legend and master Chibana Chosin.

Hawaii Karate Seinenkai
Website of an organization dedicated to karate in general and karate's history on Hawaii. Has great resources on the site.